Confused whale stuck in California harbor finds its way back to sea

CAMARILLO, Calif. — A whale that had become stuck in the Ventura Harbor found its way out to sea early Sunday, authorities said.

According to U.S. Coast Guard officials, the whale, believed to be a juvenile humpback, was last sighted at 1 a.m. heading out of the harbor into the open ocean.

Humpback whale stuck in California harbor

The whale became trapped in the harbor Saturday. Coast Guard, Ventura Harbor Patrol and National Park Service personnel attempted to coax the mammal back out to sea by playing whale feeding sounds underwater and banging on the sides of boats. The attempts proved unsuccessful, however, as the whale remained in the harbor as daylight faded and crowds that had arrived to see the humpback dispersed.

For an animal that uses acoustics for navigation, the boats in the harbor can be pretty confusing, a Coast Guard official said. The official reported that once night fell and the scene became calmer, the whale may have been able to navigate towards the ocean.

There were no known injuries to the humpback, the Coast Guard official said.